Friday, 14 May 2010

Speaking of Argento...

Christine over at Fascination with Fear dropped me a line this afternoon with some very interesting news about Dario Argento's next film project. Apparently the director has announced that he plans to direct his own version of Bram Stoker's classic chiller Dracula... IN 3D!!

Now that I have caught my breath, picked my jaw up off the floor and settled down, I did some research and sure enough, cyberspace is positively buzzing with news of this shock announcement. The news was generated by some really, really early sales art at Cannes for what will be Dario Argento's undoubtedly distinct take on the dark and sensuous tale of forbidden desire, obsession and centuries-old (blood) lust. In the current climate of obsession with all things fanged and morbidly forlorn, it might be interesting to see Argento’s take on the classic tale.

Argento is no stranger to gothic/period horror, having already helmed the spectacularly uneven, though still technically impressive Phantom of the Opera, and produced SFX guru Sergio Stivaletti’s directorial debut Wax Mask.

Speaking of 3D, it was only last year that news spread throughout cyberland that Argento was toying with the notion of remaking his own masterpiece, Deep Red. IN 3D!!

When I interviewed Dario Argento recently he couldn’t divulge any information about his next project as he was still negotiating the specifics with US execs – though he did reveal that he had no intentions of remaking Deep Red. We shall just have to wait and see what materialises from this interesting and, if I’m completely honest, bizarre news!

To listen to my interview with Dario Argento, click here. And please forgive me my gushing, it was a major dream come true and I was like an unsure, quietly ecstatic child in a blood-spattered sweet shop…

Thank you again to the positively delectable Francesca Brazzorotto for setting up the interview and translating everything! La ringrazio.

Y'know, I may get lynched for saying this, but Dracula is one of my least favourite movie-monsters. I've tried, oh how I've tried, to get on with the almighty fanged one, from the 1922 Nosferatu, to Universal's Dracula in 1931, and then Hammer Horror's Horror of Dracula (1958), none of them have particularly resonated for me. I find the guy, well... boring.

However, a Dracula helmed by Argento? Now THAT'S exciting. I'm still a little apprehensive about the current 3D bandwagon, but if anyone can utilise it to its full effect, Argento can. Very interesting news!

Argento has toyed with the notion of tackling some of the 'classic' monsters before. He wrote a treatment for Frankenstein set in WWII and even considered remaking The Golem once. He's never really said much about Dracula before. I was genuinely shocked when Christine told me about this - I reckon I can get on board with it though.

Behind the Couch is a term used as a humorous metaphor to describe the actions that a state of fear may drive someone to: for example, a young child hiding 'behind the couch' when watching a scary film or TV show. Its use generally evokes a feeling of nostalgia: safe fear in a domestic setting.

In the case of this blog, it also denotes the reviewer hiding behind the couch in shame, due to the huge amount of trashy horror films he watches...

"Gracey approaches the material with energy and intelligence... You'll be dusting off your Dario Argento DVDs to reevaluate even the titles you didn't think you liked before." - Cinema Somnambulist

"A study that is commendably even-handed in its approach... An excellent introduction to Argento - Gracey clearly knows his stuff, and a love of all things Argento shines through on each page." - Land of Whimsy

"It’s incredible. The amount of detail, information and analysis is astounding. Beyond that the book is a treasure trove of info. 8/10." - The Toxic Graveyard

"Sure to contain something new for even the most dedicated Argento fan." - Eye for Film"Highly recommended for fans, and for those seeking to learn a little more about his movies... Make sure to check it out." - Benevolent Street

'The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.'

H.P. Lovecraft

'Like one, that on a lonesome roadDoth walk in fear and dread,And having once turned round, walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.'

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

'A shudder through the silence creptAnd death athwart the noonlight swept…Graves closed round my path of life,The beautiful had fled;Pale shadows wandered by my side,And whispered of the dead.'

Sarah Helen Whitman

'We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.'

Stephen King

'Human beings are the only living creatures endowed with a full awareness of their own mortality.'

Alex Lickerman, Buddhist Physician

'A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghosts were created when the first man awoke in the night.'